Phrynocaria prathapani, POORANI, 2023

POORANI, J., 2023, An illustrated guide to lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. Part 1. Tribe Coccinellini, Zootaxa 5332 (1), pp. 1-307 : 238-240

Phrynocaria prathapani sp. n.

( Fig. 171 )

Diagnosis. This species can be separated from its congeners by its comparatively much smaller size, uniform yellow-orange coloration on both sides, punctation on head, pronotum and elytra with distinct reticulate microsculpture between interspaces, and the unique male genitalia.

Description. Holotype male: Length: 2.28 mm; width: 2.19 mm; TL/TW: 1.04; EL/EW: 0.90; PL/PW: 0.22. Form broadly rounded, elytra slightly wider than long; dorsum strongly convex and glabrous. Dorsal side uniform yellowish-orange ( Fig. 171a–c ). Ventral side yellow, paler than dorsal side, except apical antennomeres, tips of mandibles and tarsal claws darker, brownish. Head with yellowish white hairs, clypeal margin truncate between lateral projections, ocular canthus deep and broad, eyes prominent with anteriorly and posteriorly divergent margins, head 3.24x as wide as an eye, interocular distance 1.29x as wide as an eye, punctures widely spaced, separated by 3–5 diameters, slightly closer near ocular margins, interspaces between punctures with distinct, strongly reticulate microsculpture. Pronotum anteriorly deeply and trapezoidally excavated, anterolateral corners obtusely and broadly rounded, punctation dense on disc, punctures separated by 2–4 diameters, slightly closer near posterior margin, interspaces with distinct reticulate microsculpture except around middle of anterior margin with fewer punctures having apparently smooth and shiny interspaces; lateral margins with a narrow gutter. Scutellar shield broad, transverse triangular with a few punctures. Elytra explanate with a marginal gutter, punctation on disc similar to that on pronotum, slightly more deeply impressed, separated by 2–5 diameters, interspaces having distinct, reticulate microsculpture, punctures coarser and more widely spaced on lateral margins, closer towards apices. Prothoracic hypomeron deeply foveolate on anterior inner corner; prosternal process medially narrower, apically broadened and rounded, with a pair of carinae. Mesoventrite anteriorly deeply triangularly emarginate, with a longitudinal median ridge reaching up to two-thirds of its length. Metaventrite with a complete discrimen. Middle and hind tibiae without apical spurs. Tarsal claws appendiculate. Elytral epipleuron without distinct foveae but somewhat depressed on level with legs. Abdominal postcoxal lines ( Fig. 171d ) incomplete, running close and parallel to posterior margin of ventrite 1; posterior margin of ventrite 5 truncate, ventrite 6 broadly emarginate.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 171e–h ) with penis guide of tegmen in ventral view ( Fig. 171f ) elongate, widest basally and progressively narrowed towards middle, thereafter more or less uniformly wide and tubular with a rounded, somewhat spatulate apex; parameres as long as penis guide, outer margins and apices of parameres densely setose ( Fig. 171e ); penis ( Fig. 171g ) stout, strongly curved with a prominent capsule, broader in apical half, apex modified as illustrated ( Fig. 171h ).

Material examined. Holotype male: India: Kerala: Agasthyamala, Pongalappara , N 08°37’ 24.4” E 77°14’44.9”, 1473 m, 26.iii.2014, Prathapan D & Shameem K ( NBAIR).

Etymology. The species is named for Dr. K. D. Prathapan, Kerala Agricultural University, Trivandrum, a chrysomelid specialist and collector of this unique specimen.

Distribution. India: Kerala (Agasthyamala). Its type locality, Agasthyamala, is a designated Biosphere Reserve known for its rich fauna and this species appears to be rare and endemic to this area.

Notes. This appears to be the smallest Indian Phrynocaria and one of the smallest Coccinellini of this region. The eyes are somewhat narrowly separated with divergent margins, but the frons is slightly broader than its congeners. The absence of tibial spurs and the mesoventrite with a short median carina are, however, characteristic of Phrynocaria .

Figures

FIGURE 171. Phrynocaria prathapani sp. n., holotype male: a. adult dorsal view; b. adult, lateral view; c. adult, frontal view; d. abdomen; e–h. male genitalia: e. tegmen, lateral view; f. tegmen, ventral view; g. penis; h. penis apex.